Robinhood
Virtual Brokers
BrokerDataNet earns affiliate commission from brokers listed on this site. This does not affect our ratings or editorial independence.
Overview
Robinhood was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in USA, while Virtual Brokers was established in 2008 and is based in Canada. Robinhood holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while Virtual Brokers is regulated by The Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) among others. Robinhood serves 10,000,000+ clients worldwide; Virtual Brokers has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at Robinhood and $1000 at Virtual Brokers.
| Feature | Robinhood | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $1000 |
| Regulation | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Financial Supervision Commission (FSC) | The Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) |
| Founded | 2013 | 2008 |
| Country | USA | Canada |
| Clients | 10,000,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Robinhood and Virtual Brokers, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Robinhood has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $1000 at Virtual Brokers). Virtual Brokers charges withdrawal fees while Robinhood does not, giving Robinhood an edge for frequent withdrawers. Robinhood charges deposit fees; Virtual Brokers does not. Overall, Robinhood scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Robinhood | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $1000 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Fees | Yes | No |
Platforms
Robinhood offers a proprietary platform, while Virtual Brokers supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. Virtual Brokers edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Robinhood | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | No | Yes |
| MT5 | No | Yes |
| cTrader | No | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps | MT4,Desktop,iPhone/iOS |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Robinhood and Virtual Brokers compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. Daily market commentary is available from both brokers. Both integrate third-party research tools including Trading Central. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. The two brokers are evenly matched on educational content.
| Feature | Robinhood | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Robinhood accepts 1 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer), while Virtual Brokers supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Virtual Brokers uniquely supports credit/debit card among the two brokers. Virtual Brokers scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Robinhood | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | No | Yes |
| PayPal | No | No |
| Skrill | No | No |
| Neteller | No | No |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Robinhood and Virtual Brokers offer live chat support. Virtual Brokers offers phone support; Robinhood does not. Email support is available at both brokers. Robinhood supports 13 languages and Virtual Brokers supports 2, giving Robinhood broader global reach. Virtual Brokers scores higher overall on customer support in our assessment.
| Feature | Robinhood | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | No | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, Deutsch, Nederlands, Espanol, Francais, Italiano, Polski, Srpski, Norsk, Svenska, Cesky, Romana, Turkce | English, and Chinese |